I prefer to write and read third person stuff, but I recon that I can write much easier in first person.

i used to always prefer third person things, to both write and read, but after reading a lot of books my dad brings home i have started to enjoy both third and first person. i prefer to write novels in third person, but short stories in first. but i do like to change them about a little bit to make things a little more interesting.
Heather

Usually I write in third person, but lately (like heather) I've been reading quite a bit of first person. I'm now playing with the idea of writing a novel in first person.

you should try it Banzia, it is much easier than you would think. the good thing about first person is that you can get into touch with the charecor more. the bad thing is that you always have to be following them and what they can see,w hich can be limiting.

That was always what put me off it, the limitations of one person's perspective. I usually have my characters spending half of the story with no idea what the hell is going on. But then, first person offers more opportunity for humor... I will have to experiment...

Inter-mix-relate-contort whatever person appears. Mangle opportunity for insight. *blows up perspective*
:cool:

I've traditionally written in third person, I don't actually have a preference for reading.

I'm trying to write in second person though. You don't often find many books written that way. When I read over it it's kind of fun.

Third person is my preference. It allows the reader to get to know each of the characters in a far more thorough way than going by what the first-person's view of that character is. Chances are if you're seeing through Bob's eyes and Bob hates Fred, you're going to hate Fred, too. I like to have my own opinions made by my thoughts of the characters offered in the story.

De Elementen (translates as 'the elements') by Harry Mulisch was written in second person, and after a couple of pages that really worked. Since then I don't think I've encountered any more stories from the perspective, but I'd love to. *take the hint? haha j/k*

first person is the way I normally write, because at least to me, it allows me to explain the feeling and a emotions of the characters more accurately and in greater detail then 3rd person.

I generally prefer to write in third person, not sure why really, just have always been that way. But I am writing a horror piece at the moment and it is in first person view.

how in 3rd person do you address personal direct character emotions...I am curious how each of you handle it

I'm currently (attempting) to write a novel in first person, though the lack of detail (or my horrible attempts at it) is rather frustrating.

I do enjoy it though, as I think it's easier to express the character's emotions / feelings / thoughts way easier than normal "he saids."

I like to write in first person. I tend to come off... without personality in third.
Like Tv said, I like to use first in order to convey emotions easier, and dislike third since you have little connection to the charactes.

I agree about the disconnect in 3rd person, but there are some incredible novels in 3rd person. I just cant do it well, lol

That was always what put me off it, the limitations of one person's perspective.

You know, it's just that exact aspect that has always drawn me into the first person. Because you only have one person's point of view, there is always a sense of mystery and such to the plot. I also feel like it gives me more freedom because, as we all know, misunderstandings tend to be an everday thing in reality and can also be used literature to provide twists and such - a kind of take on Aristotle's ideas of the tragic hero, if you will.

Well, I guess I'll write what that story calls for, I'd like to try second, but my last attempt was a failure.

I tend to prefer 1st person POV for both reading and for writing, but I can work with and enjoy third person limited. Third person omniscient I've not tried to write, and I often don't enjoy books written with that POV either.

Terry

I'm not really sure, I'm descent at both. But with my new novel I'm attempting to write, is gonna be First-Person for the prologue (because it's a Personal Journal Entry) and 3rd person for most of the remainder.